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cnbc.com
UPS beats Wall Street estimates on top and bottom lines
Package delivery giant UPS beat Wall Street estimates for its first-quarter earnings.
bbc.com
Airlines cutting fares to lure hesitant customers, says Wizz Air
Boss József Váradi says European firms want to boost flyers put off by fares inflated by jet fuel costs.
cnbc.com
Novartis CEO warns reality of Trump's drug pricing policy will set in over 'the next 18 months'
Novartis' CEO warned Tuesday that U.S. drug pricing policy under President Donald Trump poses a "very difficult situation."
cnbc.com
Starbucks' turnaround enters a new phase: Investors want stronger profits served
CEO Brian Niccol has sales going in the right direction. Now, investors want to see profits follow suit.
bbc.com
'Emergency handbrake' needed on sickness benefits, Blair think tank says
The Tony Blair Institute says people with conditions like anxiety should get employment support instead of cash benefits.
theguardian.com
Shares in buy-to-let mortgage lenders fall after report Reeves plans rent freeze
FTSE 250 firms Paragon and OSB Group, owner of Kent Reliance and Precise Mortgages, slide on London Stock ExchangeRachel Reeves considering rent freeze to limit Iran war falloutBusiness live – latest updatesShares in some of the UK’s biggest buy-to-let lenders such as Paragon and One Savings Bank have fallen after it emerged that the chancellor may make private landlords commit to a one-year rent freeze.In an effort to protect households from rising living costs as a result of the Iran war, Rachel Reeves is considering whether to ban landlords in England from increasing rents for a limited period of time, the Guardian revealed on Monday night. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Musk v Altman: Why the tech billionaires and former friends are now facing off in court
The battle between the AI big hitters has largely played out on social media. Now it is coming to the courtroom.
bbc.com
BP profits more than double as Iran war sends oil prices higher
The energy giant said it had seen an "exceptional" performance at its oil trading business.
theguardian.com
BP reports ‘horrifying’ jump in profits as Iran war boosts oil trading; Brent crude hits three-week high – business live
Energy companies are profiting from Iran war, campaigners warn, after BP’s profits double in first quarter of 2026BP profits more than double as oil and gas prices soar in Iran warAlthough rising energy prices are great news for oil and gas producers, they’re a blow to other businesses, such as housebuilders.This morning, Taylor Wimpey has reported that the cost of building a home is being pushed up, telling shareholders:As a result of rising energy costs, build cost inflation is now expected to be low to mid single digit for 2026, with cost pressure and surcharges starting to come through from our supply chain. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
European markets rise as Trump considers Iran peace proposal
European stocks edged higher on Tuesday as investors assess the latest developments in the Iran war, and look ahead to earnings reports.
cnbc.com
Citi UK CEO: 'Phenomenal' market resilience is keeping recession risk at bay — for now
Markets have performed in an orderly way, despite the economic turmoil wrought by Middle East war, said Citi UK CEO Tiina Lee.
theguardian.com
Barclays cuts back risky lending after £228m hit from UK mortgage firm MFS
Bank’s chief executive points to rising fraud as it sets aside a further £105m for motor finance compensationBusiness live – latest updatesBarclays is pulling back from lending to risky borrowers, as its chief executive warned of increasing numbers of fraud cases and the bank took a £228m hit from the failure of a mortgage lender.The mortgage lender Market Financial Solutions (MFS) collapsed in February amid allegations of fraud and the UK’s financial regulator has since launched an investigation into the scandal. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
U.S. is 'being humiliated by Iran,' says Germany's Merz, as Europe's patience wanes
The U.S. is being "humiliated" by the Iranian regime, Germany's chancellor has said, as European leaders grow increasingly frustrated at the war in Iran.
cnbc.com
BP profits more than double, beating expectations as Iran war boosts oil prices
The results come shortly after BP's board suffered a shareholder revolt at its annual general meeting.
cnbc.com
'Draconian development' in Meta-Manus deal draws the line in China's AI race with the U.S.
Beijing's decision to block Meta's acquisition of Manus is a warning to other startups thinking of relocating data, talent and intellectual property abroad.
cnbc.com
CATL declines nearly 7% as the Chinese battery maker unveils $5 billion share placement
Shares of Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL) declined nearly 7% after the EV battery giant unveiled plans for a roughly $5 billion equity placement in Hong Kong.
cnbc.com
Asia-Pacific markets trade mostly lower as investors assess latest U.S.-Iran signals
Asia-Pacific markets traded mixed Tuesday as investors weighed the latest updates over U.S.-Iran negotiations.
cnbc.com
Brent oil prices top $111 per barrel as traders weigh Iran’s Strait of Hormuz proposal
Oil prices rose as investors parsed fresh signals from U.S.-Iran negotiations, with uncertainty over a potential de-escalation keeping markets on edge.
cnbc.com
Meta, Google, OpenAI among Big Tech firms seeing top staff leaving to launch AI startups
Former employees at AI giants are raising hundreds of millions of dollars from investors months on from launching.
cnbc.com
CNBC Daily Open: Hawkish hold from BOJ sets central bank stage
Geopolitics takes a back seat for now, as the Bank of Japan kicks off the week's central bank action and earnings season ramps up.
bbc.com
Prada launches Indian-made sandals after cultural appropriation backlash
Prada had faced backlash last year after it showcased similar designs at a fashion show without acknowledging their Indian roots.
theguardian.com
Price rises in UK shops slow as retailers apply heavy discounts to lure shoppers
Shop price inflation rose by 1% year-on-year in April, slowing from 1.2% in March, the BRC saysPrice rises in UK shops have slowed as retailers applied “heavy discounting” to their goods in an effort to entice shoppers amid weakening consumer confidence, the industry’s trade group said.Shop price inflation rose by 1% year-on-year in April, a slowdown from 1.2% in March and below the three-month average of 1.1%, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC). Continue reading...
theguardian.com
EE couldn’t change pricey broadband and TV deal after my husband died
It cheerily addressed letters to my late spouse, and threatened penalties if he terminated his contractAfter my husband died suddenly, I discovered he had been paying £171 a month for our EE broadband and TV contract. EE initially offered me a monthly deal at £44.99 on the phone.There followed two letters, one day apart, cheerily addressed to my late husband. The first stated that he would have to pay £1,007 to terminate his contract; the second giving a termination fee of £520. The letters told him he could take the contract with him when he moved house. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Bank of Japan keeps policy rate steady while raising inflation forecast on Iran war worries
The decision to keep rates steady came in a split 6-3 vote, and was in line with Reuters-polled analysts' estimates.
bbc.com
Cost of living payment date brought forward
The government said payments - normally made in autumn - will be given out in July.
bbc.com
'My husband might give up work to care for our kids' - nursery bills in Wales highest in Britain
Parents in Wales say the cost of childcare is one of their biggest worries ahead of the election.
cnbc.com
China blocks Meta's $2 billion takeover of AI startup Manus
China said Monday it has decided to block Meta's $2 billion acquisition of Manus, a Singaporean AI startup with Chinese roots.
theguardian.com
Rachel Reeves’s fiscal rules buffer should be ‘significantly larger’, say peers
Lord committee says chancellor and recent predecessors have allowed themselves too little room for manoeuvreBusiness live – latest updatesRachel Reeves should aim to run a “significantly larger” buffer against her fiscal rules, according to a report from a House of Lords committee that says the UK’s public debt is on an unsustainable trajectory.The chancellor raised taxes at last year’s budget in order to more than double the “headroom”, or buffer, against her fiscal rules to £22bn – some of which is expected to be eroded by the impact of the Iran war. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Humanoid robots to become baggage handlers in Japan airport experiment
Japan Airlines will introduce the robots for trial run at a Tokyo airport amid country’s surge in inbound tourism and worsening labour shortagesJapan’s famously conscientious but overburdened baggage handlers will soon be joined by extra staff at Tokyo’s Haneda airport – although their new colleagues will need to take regular recharging breaks.Japan Airlines will introduce humanoid robots on a trial basis from the beginning of May, with a view to deploying them permanently as a solution to the country’s chronic labour shortage. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
The secretive billionaire bankrolling Nigel Farage – podcast
The crypto tycoon has given millions to Farage’s political parties. But who is Christopher Harborne and what does he want in return?One balmy evening last year at the Kamalaya wellness sanctuary in Thailand, the resort manager welcomed guests to a talk on longevity and anti-ageing medicine. The first speaker was a Thai doctor with impeccable credentials. The second was the resort’s owner, Chakrit Sakunkrit, who is better known as Christopher Harborne. And Harborne doesn’t only own a resort – he could be one of the richest people alive.The Guardian’s investigations correspondent, Tom Burgis, tells Helen Pidd that Harborne is by far and away the biggest donor to Nigel Farage, stumping up two-thirds of Reform UK’s funding. And one of the donations was also the largest single donation by a living donor to a British political party ever. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
BYD draws EU scrutiny over labor abuse allegations at Hungary factory
BYD has come under scrutiny from European lawmakers after a watchdog report alleged harsh working conditions at its Hungary plant.
cnbc.com
CNBC Daily Open: Investors look past warning signs to send stock markets soaring
From stagflation warnings and stalled Iran talks to rising oil prices, red lights are everywhere.
bbc.com
My tenant owes £15,000 in rent, but I can't get them out of the property
Landlords tell BBC News why they fear new laws could make it harder to remove problematic tenants.
cnbc.com
Europe’s rearmament push drives global military spending to record $2.9 trillion despite U.S. pullback
Global military spending rose for an 11th straight year to a record $2.89 trillion in 2025, driven by Europe’s rearmament push, even as U.S. outlays declined.
bbc.com
I had £20,000 stolen and had to fight a 13-month fraud reporting rule to get it back
Sarah has now got her money back but there are calls to reform the deadline for reporting scams to banks.
bbc.com
Why Spotify has no button to filter out AI music
Music streamer Deezer allows users to filter out AI music, so why does Spotify not offer the same?
cnbc.com
CNBC's The China Connection newsletter: AI is moving into the physical world — fast
From cars to robots, industries across China are seeing AI expand from cloud-based systems into devices.
cnbc.com
Judge in Musk v. Altman seats nine-person jury. Opening arguments start Tuesday
The Musk v. Altman trial kicked off at a federal courthouse in Oakland, California, with jury selection followed by opening arguments.
cnbc.com
Cole Allen charged with trying to assassinate Trump at WHCD event
The Secret Service is facing scrutiny over security at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, where President Donald Trump was evacuated Saturday.
bbc.com
Oil prices rise as US-Iran peace talks stall
President Trump said the US had cancelled plans to send a team to Pakistan for negotiations.
theguardian.com
Elon Musk and Sam Altman face off in court over OpenAI’s founding mission
Musk’s lawsuit accuses Altman of fraud, while OpenAI says that Musk is ‘motivated by jealousy’A trial between two of Silicon Valley’s biggest tycoons kicked off on Monday in California, the culmination of a years-long bitter feud. Elon Musk has accused Sam Altman of betraying the founding agreement of the non-profit they started together, OpenAI, by changing it to a for-profit enterprise.Jury selection began at a federal courthouse in Oakland with Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers presiding. As she began, she assured the dozens of prospective jurors that this trial wasn’t going to be highly technical, despite it centering around artificial intelligence. “This is just a case about promises and breaches of promises, it won’t get technical at all,” she said. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Pharma bets a little-known form of cholesterol will underpin its next blockbuster heart drugs
Novartis, Amgen and Eli Lilly are betting that slashing levels of a particularly bad form of cholesterol could deliver the next blockbusters in cardiology.
cnbc.com
Nvidia, Intel call buyers defy the dip in chip stocks
One of the biggest trades in the group this morning is a $2.2 million purchase of 2,168 $210-strike calls in Nvidia that expire May 15.
cnbc.com
This bank CEO let his AI clone handle an earnings call — now he's signing an OpenAI deal
It's part of Customers Bank CEO Sam Sidhu's effort to get ahead in the industry's race to transform itself using AI agents as a new digital workforce
cnbc.com
Ray Dalio says Kevin Warsh shouldn't cut interest rates in a ‘stagflation’ era
Dalio said that if Kevin Warsh were to cut rates, it would risk damaging confidence in the central bank at a critical moment.
cnbc.com
Trump discussed Iran's Hormuz Strait proposal with top aides, White House says
The Trump administration has repeatedly insisted that the central goal of the conflict is keeping Iran from ever obtaining a nuclear weapon.
theguardian.com
Nationwide should give its boardroom challenger a fair run
James Sherwin-Smith’s candidacy is a test of the building society’s commitment to mutual valuesJames Sherwin-Smith, who is aiming to become the first customer to be voted onto the board of Nationwide in nearly 25 years, deserves top marks for perseverance. A year ago his attempt to get his name on the ballot paper was stymied, or so it seemed, by data protection rules and so forth. This time, he has the necessary 250 nominations to be a candidate at the July annual meeting.It is a development to welcome. As argued here a year ago, there is something of a democracy deficit at Nationwide. While the UK’s most important mutually-owned society understandably milks the fact it does not have to answer to beastly shareholders, ownership by the members does not always translate into giving those members a real voice in how the place is run. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Shell to buy Canadian shale producer ARC Resources for $16.4bn
Deal comes five years after Shell sold its US shale business and is its biggest acquisition for a decadeShell has agreed to buy Canadian shale producer ARC Resources for $16.4bn, five years after Europe’s biggest gas and oil producer sold its US shale business.The deal, which includes $13.6bn in cash and shares and taking on ARC’s $2.8bn debt, would be Shell’s biggest acquisition since it bought BG Group a decade ago. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Former Google DeepMind researcher's AI startup raises record $1.1 billion seed funding to pursue superintelligence
Ineffable Intelligence has emerged from stealth with a $5.1 billion valuation.
cnbc.com
Prediction markets prepare to invade one of crypto’s biggest and riskiest trades
There’s a land grab underway in the U.S. for perpetual futures, one of the biggest and riskiest parts of crypto — and prediction markets want a piece of it.
bbc.com
Greggs removes cabinets in shoplifting hotspots
Greggs is removing display cabinets in London stores that have been most severely hit by shoplifters.
bbc.com
Claire's closes all 154 stores in UK and Ireland with loss of 1,300 jobs
All of the chain's standalone stores have stopped trading in the UK and Ireland.
bbc.com
Superdry co-founder accused of raping woman
James Holder, 54, is accused of raping the woman after a night out in 2022, but denies the charges.
bbc.com
Which airlines are cancelling flights to the UK - and what can you do?
Airlines are putting up prices and cancelling flights in response to higher jet fuel prices.
bbc.com
Why Elon Musk and Sam Altman are fighting over OpenAI
Musk, who co-founded the company that created ChatGPT with Altman, wants more than $130bn in damages.
cnbc.com
Iran reportedly proposes Hormuz Strait deal to U.S. Here’s where things stand — and what’s next for markets
U.S.-Iran peace talks stall. Here's where things stand — and what's next for markets
bbc.com
China blocks Meta's $2bn acquisition of AI start-up Manus
It comes after months of scrutiny by Chinese regulators over deal struck with Facebook owner.
theguardian.com
What’s going on with Spirit Airlines and could the White House bail them out?
The long-troubled air carrier is in bankruptcy court as the Trump administration scrambles to save the companySoaring fuel prices are threatening air carriers around the world, and in the US the White House is scrambling to save the long-troubled Spirit Airlines.The carrier is in bankruptcy court and is quickly running out of cash. Reports last week suggested that the Trump administration was in talks to loan as much as $500m to the company as it teetered on the brink of liquidation. Then on Thursday, Donald Trump told reporters the federal government might buy the ailing airline. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
G7 central banks poised to hold borrowing costs amid concerns over prolonged Iran war
Critical week for global economy as banks expected to issue warnings over conflict driving up pricesThe world’s most powerful central banks are poised to hold borrowing costs unchanged this week amid growing concerns over the unfolding inflation shock from the Iran war.In a critical week for the global economy, each of the central banks in the G7 are expected to issue warnings over the risks from the Middle East war driving up prices for households and businesses. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Purple ube’s viral rise is turning a Filipino staple into a global trend — but supplies are tightening
Ube, a naturally sweet, starchy vegetable grown in the Philippines, has transcended Filipino culture and become a social media sensation.
bbc.com
The Chinese sports brand taking on Nike and Adidas
Now one of the biggest sportswear firms, Anta's rise follows a playbook adopted by many Chinese giants.
bbc.com
Less bread and WFH Fridays – what Pret boss knows about our habits
Customers want great value but that doesn't necessarily mean the cheapest products, says Pano Christou.
theguardian.com
Nationwide could have first customer on board for nearly 25 years
James Sherwin-Smith will be up for election after securing more than 250 nominations to run alongside existing directorsNationwide building society could have a customer on its board for the first time in nearly a quarter of a century after one of its longtime members secured enough support for a spot on the lender’s annual ballot.James Sherwin-Smith will be up for board elections at Nationwide’s annual general meeting (AGM) in July, having gathered more than the 250 peer nominations necessary to run alongside existing directors. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
We booked £4,000 in EasyJet flights – but it won’t let us postpone them all after devastating news
The airline refused a refund or credit for our group of 14 after a brain tumour diagnosis for my two-year-old childWe were organising our wedding for this June when the happiest period of our lives became a nightmare.Our two-year-old daughter was diagnosed with an aggressive grade 4 brain tumour requiring immediate life-saving surgeries. The prognosis is devastating. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Dozens of toys recalled in the UK after asbestos found in play sand
Candle-making kits and rubber toys among products recalled after revelation about play sand sold by HobbycraftMore than 30 children’s toys have been recalled in the UK after the Guardian revealed that play sand sold by Hobbycraft was contaminated with asbestos.Over the past three months, other children’s products ranging from candle-making kits to stretchy rubber toys have been recalled by retailers including Tesco, Primark, Matalan and M&S after being found to contain the substance. Continue reading...
bbc.com
'I don't want the children to see how worried we are': UK family finances hit by Iran war
British families tell BBC Panorama how the Iran war is affecting their monthly budgets.
theguardian.com
Inside China’s robotics revolution – podcast
How close are we to the sci-fi vision of autonomous humanoid robots? I visited 11 companies in five Chinese cities to find outBy Chang Che. Read by Vincent Lai Continue reading...
bbc.com
How climate change threatens the economic backbone of the Pacific
Tuna populations around the Pacific Islands could move away as ocean temperatures increase.
theguardian.com
UK urged to deploy EU-style ‘trade bazooka’ against Trump’s tariffs
‘Inadequate economic security’ is putting growth and jobs at risk, says British Chambers of Commerce UK business leaders have called on the government to build an EU-style “trade bazooka” to protect Britain’s economic interests in response to the latest tariff threats from Donald Trump.As transatlantic tensions rise, the British Chambers of Commerce said the UK’s “inadequate economic security” was putting growth and jobs at risk. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
UK faces higher prices for eight months after war in Iran ends, says minister
Darren Jones suggests cost of energy, food and flights will remain high after de-escalation and Hormuz strait reopensThe UK faces higher prices for food and fuel for at least eight months after the war in Iran ends, a minister has said. The closure of the strait of Hormuz, a key shipping lane that carries a fifth of global oil and gas, has sent oil prices soaring since the US and Israeli attacks on Iran began in February. Darren Jones, the chief secretary to the prime minister, said the conflict would probably continue to raise prices for energy, food and flights in the coming months as potential issues around energy supplies affect production, rather than lead to shortages on supermarket shelves. The UK government has urged motorists to fill up their cars as usual amid higher prices at the pumps and for air travellers not to change their plans over potential jet fuel shortages. Jones told the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme: “You’re going to see prices go up a bit as a consequence of what Donald Trump has done in the Middle East. “That’s probably going to come online not just in the next few weeks, but the next few months. There’s going to be a long tail from this.” Asked how long higher prices might remain, Jones suggested it would be around eight months after the strait of Hormuz was unblocked and a de-escalation of the conflict had taken place. “I think our best guess is eight-plus months from the point of resolution that you’ll see economic impacts coming through the system,” he said. Donald Trump announced an indefinite extension of the US ceasefire with Iran last week that paused most of the fighting, but further efforts towards ending the conflict have been unsuccessful after the US president told his envoys not to travel to Pakistan for talks at the weekend. The UK government is stepping up planning for how to offset the impact, focusing on the live monitoring of stock levels and what plans are in place for addressing supply chain disruption. Jones said: “The government here in the UK, the work that I’m doing with the prime minister is looking at all of those things and saying, ‘What can we do within our power to help people to get through those difficult times?’” The government is also looking to secure stocks of carbon dioxide, which is used in the food industry and by breweries to make drinks fizzy, as well as for defence purposes and medical uses such as MRI scanning. Jones said he was seeking to ensure there was an adequate supply of beer for fans watching the men’s football World Cup, which starts on 11 June. He said: “I raised this issue because if there is a problem with jet fuel on holidays and carbon dioxide on beer, the summer might be pretty depressing for people, but we’re doing everything we can to make sure that it’s not the case.” The Liberal Democrats have called for a bill to be included in the next king’s speech in May to put food security at the top of the government’s agenda. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Royal Mail investigating claims that postal worker ‘binned Reform UK election leaflets’
Message on private Facebook group for staff said: ‘I dumped them all in a bin. They can sack me!’Royal Mail is investigating allegations that a postal worker claimed to have “dumped” Reform UK campaign leaflets in a bin ahead of local elections on 7 May.A post on a Facebook group for Royal Mail staff said: “My DO had reform party’s D2D today. I dumped them all in a bin. They can sack me! Idgaf!” Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Bosses don’t like the sound of a ‘four-day workweek’. Maybe it’s time to rebrand it
Some employers are reluctant to cut workers’ hours but pay them the same – but it just might be the future of workWe keep hearing that the four-day workweek is the future. So why are so few businesses actually adopting it?Belgium, Iceland and Lithuania have passed legislation requiring the practice, and other countries in Europe are piloting the idea. Hundreds of companies in the UK have signed up for to give this a try. Microsoft tested the concept in Japan. Non-profits such as the 4 Day Week Foundation and WorkFour are dedicated to expanding the concept. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Higher prices could last for eight months after Iran war, minister says
Officials are monitoring stock levels and planning for any potential disruptions to the supply chain.
theguardian.com
Ryanair to shut Berlin base as it blames rise in German aviation tax
Trade union criticises airline’s plan to halve passenger numbers to the city as ‘purely profit-oriented’ Ryanair is to shut its Berlin operating base and cut its winter schedule to the German capital in half, blaming soaring aviation taxes in the country.The Irish budget carrier said its relocation of seven aircraft to other centres would reduce its Berlin passenger numbers from 4.5 million to 2.2 million a year, with flights in and out of the city served from October by planes based at other airports. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
The great energy pivot: US oil and Chinese solar are the winners in Trump’s war on Iran
Exposure of world’s reliance on Middle East supplies accelerates global shift towards new energy superpowersIn the open seas, an armada of empty tankers has quietly turned west. A record number of super-sized vessels are now heading to the US, where oil drillers and refineries are preparing to profit from Donald Trump’s war in the Middle East.Almost 30 of these vessels, each able to hold 2m barrels of oil, are contracted to load US crude, destined for a global market facing the biggest supply crisis in history. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Britain is undermining the care workers it depends on | Heather Stewart
Labour’s immigration plans tear up the promise made to 300,000 people recruited for a sector in crisis “We are deflated, we are sad. We feel the government is trying to pull the rug from under our feet,” says David. “It is like we are being criticised for working in a sector which the government called for us to come help with.”David – not his real name – is a care worker for adults with learning disabilities. He came to the east of England from Nigeria in 2022 with his wife as the Conservative government turned to migration to tackle the social care recruitment crisis. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Musk and Altman’s bitter feud over OpenAI to be laid bare in court
Tesla chief believes Altman broke company’s founding agreement – and legal battle promises to be explosiveThe bitter rivalry between two of the tech world’s most powerful men arrives in court this week, as Elon Musk’s lawsuit against Sam Altman and OpenAI heads to trial in Oakland, California. The case is set to feature some of the biggest names in Silicon Valley, and its outcome could affect the course of the AI boom.Musk’s suit, filed in 2024, focuses on the formative years of OpenAI when he, Altman and others co-founded the artificial intelligence company as a nonprofit with a grand purpose. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
UK departments at odds over energy demands of AI datacentres
Discrepancy in forecasts raises questions over government planning for net zeroOne vision of the UK’s future involves a decarbonised economy powered by clean, renewable energy. Another involves making the UK an AI superpower.The government departments responsible for these two visions do not appear to have agreed on their numbers. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
From syringes to stents: Iran war exposes NHS dependency on petrochemicals
NHS chiefs fear rising costs and healthcare shortages due to the shipping standstill in the GulfThe war in Iran has put the NHS on high alert amid fears about looming shortages and rising costs for medicines and medical products such as syringes, intravenous bags and gloves.Much of modern healthcare is dependent on the petrochemicals now held up by the Gulf shipping standstill – whether for active pharmaceutical ingredients or to produce the millions of sterile single-use items, ranging from personal protective equipment (PPE) to catheters and diagnostic-device casings. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘Sludge in the system’: myriad problems stymie Labour’s 1.5m new homes pledge
Soaring cost of building materials, lack of affordability and planning bottlenecks are some of the obstacles thwarting housing targetAt South and City College in Birmingham, dozens of young people clad in hi-vis vests and hard hats are building mini-walls and plastering half-formed rooms.Some weave in and out of stacks of bricks with wheelbarrows, while others use spirit levels to check the walls are straight and flat. In a few days time, these walls will be demolished and the plastering scraped away, for a new class to come in and try their hands. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Shoplifters aren't just bad to the bone or mums stealing nappies. The truth is more complex| Emily Kenway
Speaking to career thieves as part of my research, I learned that childhood abuse, a life in care and little education has led them to this placeEmily Kenway is a social policy doctoral researcher at the University of Edinburgh and author of Who Cares: the Hidden Crisis of Caregiving and How We Solve ItRyan* is 25 and he’s a shoplifter. He’s good at it too – about four times a week, he makes “no small money” by stealing and reselling goods from large department stores where security is limited. He’s strategic: he makes sure he’s clean and tidy, and keeps aware of CCTV. He usually steals just one or two high-value items to limit the risk of detection – designer garments or a small speaker, which he slips into a bag as he walks around the shop, before browsing a little longer and exiting.His actions are part of recent record highs in shoplifting offences. From March 2024 to March 2025, there were 530,643 offences recorded in England and Wales. This is a 20% rise on the previous year and the highest figure since current police recording practices began in 2003. There has been ample media coverage of this spike, helped by the recent scandal of a Waitrose worker being sacked after confronting a man stealing Easter eggs. Retail workers are suffering on the frontline; in its 2026 crime survey, the British Retail Consortium found that theft was “a major trigger for violence and abuse of staff”, leading the trade union for retail workers to warn that “shoplifting is not a victimless crime”. Meanwhile, the claim that Britain’s shoplifting “epidemic” symbolises a wider descent into “lawlessness” has become a familiar one in the media.Emily Kenway is a social policy doctoral researcher at the University of Edinburgh and author of Who Cares: the Hidden Crisis of Caregiving and How We Solve ItDo you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
California’s jet fuel supply drops to three-year low as Middle East turmoil squeezes global oil market
Industry analysts say fuel price surge could lead to canceled flight routes that could snarl travelers’ plansCalifornia’s jet fuel supply has dropped to a level not seen since 2023, as turmoil in the Middle East continues to squeeze the global oil market.As of 17 April, the state’s jet fuel stock was just over 2.6m barrels, in comparison to 3.2m barrels two years prior, according to the California energy commission (CEC), which publishes a refinery stocks data dashboard. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Facing AI and a tough job market, gen Z turns to entrepreneurship: ‘I have to prove myself’
As AI erases the bottom rungs of the corporate ladder, some gen Z workers skip the entry level to become their own CEOsWhen Ashley Terrell graduated from the University of Hawaii in 2024, she planned to find a job in marketing, maybe for a tech company. She had a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a college résumé that included a student marketing job for Red Bull. But after months of applying, her only offer was to work in the power tools section at Home Depot. “It was quite a shock,” she told the Guardian. “I searched for jobs every single day in that Home Depot bathroom.”Terrell’s generation is entering the workforce in a particularly unlucky moment. Hiring in the United States has slumped to its lowest rate since 2020, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. While workers of all ages are feeling the pressure of an uncertain economy, it’s gen Z who is the most pessimistic about their job prospects: entry-level jobs are the most vulnerable to impacts from artificial intelligence, and some younger workers are seeing their careers stall before they have even started. Terrell felt she was not just competing with other people for jobs. “Especially with marketing, a lot of people think it can be replaced with AI,” she said. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Will I ever retire? It doesn’t look like it | Dave Schilling
Being financially equipped to retire feels like a fantasy. And yet plenty of people who could do so are avoiding it“Retirement.” A word I can hardly spell anymore, it seems so abstract and impossible – like a science-fiction concept from a tattered old novel. In the classic film Blade Runner, “retirement” is the term used to describe the brutal ritual of future cops executing rogue androids called replicants (which auto-correct just tried to turn into “Republicans” against my will, though maybe Google Docs has a Freudian slip function now).The Blade Runner version of retirement strikes me as more feasible for modern humans – getting blasted by a jackbooted assassin with a phallic-looking blaster – than the traditional process. Actual retirement – cocktails on the beach in between golf games – is as distant as the farthest known star. As glamorous as my life must seem to you, dear reader, it is not that at all. Like most creative types who never bothered to learn to code, I scrape by every month, white-knuckling until the next heaven-sent direct deposit. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘Nigel is mad to accept his money’: who is Christopher Harborne, the mystery billionaire bankrolling Reform?
A crypto tycoon is giving record-breaking amounts to Farage’s party. But little is known about his motivesShortly before Christmas 2022, Chakrit Sakunkrit, owner of the Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary on the Thai island of Koh Samui, invited 200 guests to spend a few days celebrating his 60th birthday. One sultry afternoon, Sakunkrit and a small group gathered around a table near the shore, surrounded by the burgundy foliage of Good Luck plants. To his right, dressed down in a polo shirt, sat Nigel Farage.Since Brexit marked the achievement of his life’s work three years earlier, Farage had fizzled. Even some of his supporters had pronounced him finished. Now, with the Conservatives in disarray after Liz Truss’s disastrous budget that September, Farage was hinting at a still more ambitious project: to make himself prime minister. Continue reading...
bbc.com
China car giant BYD says it can thrive without US
With the price of fuel rising China's BYD says it is positioning itself to benefit from the global shift away from fossil fuels.
bbc.com
US justice department drops probe into Fed chairman Jerome Powell
President Donald Trump had accused Powell of improper cost overruns in renovating the Fed's building.
theguardian.com
‘Look, no hands’: China chases the driverless dream at Beijing car show
As domestic sales slow, manufacturers are investing in AI and seeking growth in technology and in overseas marketsAt the world’s biggest car fair, which opened in Beijing on Friday, there were hundreds of manufacturers, more than 1,000 vehicles, hundreds of thousands of enthusiasts – and hardly anyone behind a wheel.China’s car companies have cornered the domestic electric vehicle market, and are increasingly visible on the global stage. Now they are turning their attention to what they are betting is the future of mobility: autonomous driving. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Tech bros: it’s time to challenge Silicon Valley’s saviour complex | Fiona Katauskas
They’re in a league of their ownSee more of Fiona Katauskas’s cartoons here Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Ban fur farming or risk a new pandemic | Neil Vora
Banning an industry that is brutal to animals could be one of the most consequential public-health measures in decadesEvery year, millions of captive animals are gassed or electrocuted and then turned into multithousand-dollar fur coats. Though the industry has shrunk considerably in recent years, it poses a disproportionately large risk to human health. There’s a real chance that the next pandemic could be incubated within the cramped confines of a fur farm, and banning the cruel and senseless practice could be one of the most consequential public-health measures in decades.Fur farms are hell. Like other “factory” farms, these facilities confine thousands of animals in close quarters, crammed into tiny wire cages. Often, the animals can barely move around, living out their sad, stationary lives atop a pool of their own waste. Some species, like red foxes, begin chewing the tails off of their young, or even killing them.Neil Vora is the executive director of the Preventing Pandemics at the Source Coalition and led New York City’s Covid-19 contact tracing program from 2020 to 2021 Continue reading...
theguardian.com
How frustration at Cop stalemates inspires first global talks on phasing out fossil fuels
‘Coalition of the willing’ gathers in Colombia to try to bypass petrostate blockages of Cop summits and chart fresh pathThe world’s first Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels conference, co-hosted by Colombia and the Netherlands, takes place in Santa Marta, Colombia, from 24 to 29 April. A “coalition of the willing” – including 54 countries and various subnational governments, civil society groups and academics – will try to chart a new path to powering the world with low-carbon energy. Continue reading...
bbc.com
How does it affect me if share prices fall?
Changes in the FTSE 100 and other indexes are not just for financial experts, they can affect our lives.
bbc.com
Stock markets are too high and set to fall, says Bank of England deputy
It is unusual for a senior figure at the Bank to be so forthright on market movements.
bbc.com
Meta to cut one in 10 jobs after spending billions on AI
The cuts, which employees had been expecting for weeks, will be Meta's largest layoff since 2023.
theguardian.com
Stocks and shares Isas: are they right for me, and where is best to invest?
Some people are put off by myriad investment options. Here is a guide to the key decisions to help you choose ‘Savvy Squirrel’ ad campaign looks to push Britons towards investingThe UK government is keen to encourage people to invest. If you are thinking of dipping your toe into the stock market, an Isa is often the best way, as it lets you protect any gains from tax. Here’s how to get started. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Will the backlash against AI turn violent? – podcast
An attack on the home of OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman – and on the company’s headquarters – has led to concerns the backlash against AI could become violent. Guardian journalist Nick Robins-Early and researcher Sean Fleming discussIn a couple of weeks, at an arraignment hearing in California, Daniel Moreno-Gama will face formal charges, including attempted double homicide.It comes after his attack on the home of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman – throwing a molotov cocktail at the property – before attempting to break into the entrance of the company’s headquarters hours later. Continue reading...
bbc.com
White House memo claims mass AI theft by Chinese firms
A memo from Michael Kratsios says firms, mainly in China, are wrongfully distilling US AI models.
bbc.com
US soldier charged after winning $400,000 betting on removal of Maduro
Gannon Ken Van Dyke allegedly made trades on Polymarket on the basis of classified information, the justice department says.
bbc.com
From scientist to silk farmer: India's silk industry renewal
Silk production is an increasingly high-tech business in India.
bbc.com
High street drug dealer sells cannabis to undercover reporter
Across the UK, shopfronts are being exploited by criminal gangs pushing illegal drugs, experts say.
bbc.com
Warner Bros shareholders approve Paramount's $111bn takeover
The approval came as Donald Trump is to attend a dinner with billionaire Paramount backers the Ellisons.
bbc.com
What the Warner Bros deal could mean for streaming, cinemas and news
If Paramount's takeover of Warner Bros goes ahead it could significantly reshape Hollywood.
bbc.com
Watch: BBC goes undercover at mini-mart selling drugs
BBC UK editor Ed Thomas confronts a shopkeeper secretly filmed selling cannabis and cocaine to one of our researchers.
theguardian.com
One ship, three deaths: the shocking truth behind working conditions on a Chinese fishing vessel
Damning testimony from the crew of one longline tuna-fishing boat has lifted the lid on the treatment of workers in the fleets supplying fish to the UK and EUAbdul was the first to fall sick, in February 2025, four months into his first ever stint on a longline tuna fishing vessel in the Indian Ocean. Told he was “weak” and “overreacting” by other crew members, he forced himself to keep working, even when he could barely stand, his legs swollen and bruised.In the months that followed, other crew members of the Tai Xiang 5, a Chinese vessel belonging to Shandong Zhonglu Oceanic Fisheries, a large state-owned fishing company, allegedly began to suffer similar symptoms: swollen, painful limbs and debilitating weakness, with some becoming very short of breath. They were offered no proper medical care, claims Abdul, 36, nor rest from the gruelling 16-hour days, for which they earned 4.6m Indonesian rupiah (about £198) a month. Continue reading...
bbc.com
How a pivot to hair accessories led to business success
Jenny Lennick's colourful hair clips are sold across the US and around the world.
bbc.com
Inflation: What do price increases mean for you?
Prices went up by 3.3% in March, but what does that mean for you asks the BBC's Colletta Smith.
bbc.com
The 'dumb machine' promising a clean energy breakthrough
A stellarator is difficult to build, but could it be the best way to make fusion energy work?
bbc.com
Are insider traders making millions from the Iran war?
The BBC has found suspicious trading patterns that correlate with some of the president's most market-moving statements.
bbc.com
Why your recycled clothes could end up in this South American desert
Old garments from around the world are being discarded in the South American country.
bbc.com
Scammers are becoming ever more sophisticated - this is what the fightback looks like
Scams have exploded over the last few years. Can countries and companies come together to turn the tables on the scammers?
bbc.com
Could a digital twin make you into a 'superworker'?
Firms say digital twins make staff more productive, but are they a potential legal minefield?
bbc.com
Back to books - Sweden's schools cutting back on digital learning
Swedish classrooms swap laptops for books, pens and paper, raising concerns from the tech sector.
bbc.com
Quantum computing: A tech race Europe could win?
With some promising computing companies in the field, could Europe be a leader in quantum tech?
bbc.com
The Dutch village at risk of being demolished
Moerdijk has been earmarked for removal, to make way for a vast electricity substation.
bbc.com
'Every drop of water counts': Fear for the future of Argentina's glaciers
A controversial law to ease protections for the glaciers has passed, opening the doors for mining.
bbc.com
TV for dogs booms but are they watching?
TV channels for dogs are multiplying but research is mixed on whether dogs are watching.
bbc.com
The construction boss who built a new life after three years in prison
Traci Quinn, who was jailed for a drugs offence, has transformed herself and set up a successful firm.
bbc.com
The £5.30 orange juice that tells the story of why supermarket prices are sky high
Butter, chocolate, coffee and milk have all seen prices rocket. Tracing back through the story of one particular supermarket staple begins to explain why
bbc.com
Prepare for turbulence - how a prolonged Middle East conflict could reshape how we fly
The Gulf's hub airports made long-distance travel cheaper - but now their future looks unclear.
bbc.com
Sir John Curtice: Why Labour's Brexit focus has shifted from Leavers to Remainers
Will the pursuit of a closer relationship with the EU risk courting electoral disaster by alienating Brexit-backing voters?
bbc.com
The real impact of roadworks on the country - and why they're set to get worse
There is a fine balance between the benefits of improved infrastructure, versus the cost of disruption. Does the country have it right?
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